The commentators 27-10-15

...on tax credits

George Osborne gambled over tax credits. He lost. Now he must decide whether to fold, or go all in. His choice could determine whether he becomes prime minister. Away from the high-blown constitutional debate, there are the low politics of the Government defeat over tax credits. The most political question of all is what happens to Mr Osborne, who now faces a situation as bleak as the cold summer of 2012 when the Omnishambles Budget decision to cut the top rate of income tax made him all too easy to paint as an unfeeling Tory toff- James Kirkup, Daily Telegraph

After an imperious summer, George Osborne is boxed in. He cannot abandon the cuts without losing face and billions of pounds. He can offset the reductions in fiddly ways but they tend not to target the poorest workers. One month before a spending review that could have been the lap of honour after his July Budget, he has few ways to sweeten the policy. What he can do is buy political cover. He should raise more money from the rich, especially the asset-rich, to reduce the deficit. This must be in addition to, not instead of, the tax credit policy- Janan Ganesh, Financial Times

In what will go down as a sordid and shameful moment in the history of Parliament, the democratic will of the British people (expressed in a general election just six months ago) was openly defied by a cabal of political appointees. It is very hard indeed to exaggerate how contemptible the modern House of Lords has become- Peter Oborne, Daily Mail

Corbyn needs to get to grips with the mainstream media. Shunning Andrew Marr and the Sun is not a strategy that will lead to electoral success.But the Press, too, must rethink. If people are offended by Corbyn's singalong choices or dress sense, it is fair that they are reported. If his oratory leaves something to be desired, it is fair that that, too, is commented upon. But let's get this into perspective. Those are side issues; the first job of the Press is to report the news, so when a new leader makes his first important setpiece speech, it would be good if newspapers told us what he said rather than what they thought- Editor's blog: All singing from the wrong hymn sheet

Comment Awards, 2015

Yomi Adegoke: two nominations

Sathnam Sanghera: four nominations

Thursday 17 September, 2015 The Financial Times and The Times again lead the way in this year's ei Comment Awards, with eleven nominations apiece in the shortlists announced today.Sathnam Sanghera is responsible for four of those Times nominations - featuring in the media commentator, diversity, technology and individual comment piece categories.Freelance Yomi Adegoke who founded Birthday Magazine for black teenage girls, is among four writers shortlisted in two categories - in her case young commentariat and media commentator. George Monbiot of the Guardian completes the media line-up and is also nominated as science commentator and Gillian Tett of the FT is listed in both business and economics.Her colleague Janan Ganesh is shortlisted for political commentator and the big prize - commentariat of the year, where he is up against the two most recent winners David Aaronovitch (also nominated for comment piece of the year) and Caitlin Moran.SubScribe is honoured and surprised to find a place on the individual blogger shortlist, and fully expects to come third behind Barrister Blogger Matthew Scott and Stuart Forster of Go-eat-Do.You can see all the shortlists here.